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Goodbye 2022: A three-year review

12/30/2022

Orange County California Golf Review Picture

When I moved to Orange County, California in late 2019, I knew a few things about golf in the area. First, my favorite golf course ever in Orange County, Cypress Golf Course, had been razed during the Great Recession (sad). Second, I know that generally, OC golf is over-priced for what you get, unless you want to play a string of relatively uninspiring municipal golf courses (or join a country club). What I did not know, was that the Navy Destroyer Course (where Tiger grew up playing) would be the closest golf course to my house, and also the hybrid golf course I was looking for. It's quite a bit better than the other nearby golf courses in a similar price range and also fairly challenging to score well. The only main downside is that getting morning tee times is rough, so most of my rounds have been gathered in the summer months, teeing off after 2pm and finishing near sunset. No complaints though, as our US service men and women deserve the perks they get here. I have played the golf course a half dozen times over the last three years and the review is finally ready to go, as a parting gift for the end of 2022!

Now that I have this behind me, I can finally begin to work on the 7 golf courses I'm adding to my list of Irish golf course reviews, "fresh" from my vacation there this past summer. Here's to something to look forward to in 2023!!

A Year Later...

12/22/2022

Costa Mesa golf course review Picture

Yet another story of "not getting around to it" I have been sitting on this golf course review for over a year, but at least the Costa Mesa (Los Lagos) golf course review is finally here. To be honest, I'd never been pressured for it by anybody else, but glad to get this one out. There are only a couple more golf course reviews like this in the hopper from years past, then I can bridge the winter golfing gap with a lovely series of golf course reviews from my summer golfing trip this past year.

Three Counties, Three Updates

11/4/2022

So Cal Golf Course Reviews Picture

As part of the ongoing efforts to modernize my golf course reviews (see previous blog), I've gone back and updated three golf courses that I've played in the last year, which happen to be in three separate counties of California. As part of that, I also spruced up some notes on golf courses that have since altered or closed as well. See updates on:

Buenaventura Golf Course in Ventura County
Strawberry Farms Golf Club in Orange County
Recreation Park Golf Course (Big Rec) in Los Angeles County

Trick or Treat

10/31/2020

Strawberry farms golf review Picture

For Halloween you get a small update to Strawberry Farms, which I played for the first time in 13 years. Ironically, normally I'm fairly aware of my previous ratings and do meaningful updates. This time, due to me playing in a tournament of sorts, I did not deliver on as many golf hole updates as I would have liked to, but it is an update nonetheless and my overall rating didn't change. To be fair, the golf course is actually better than it's rating (which is still a decent rating), but the sur-charge that orange county seems to put on most of it's golf courses usually harms golf courses in that area for being over-priced relative to value and keeps them from being truly outstanding as, even I who enjoys good golf, have a hard time paying the prices they want and usually settle for cheaper local golf if I can find it.

An unusual review

9/5/2020

I'm not normally negative on my reviews of courses, but Rancho San Joaquin golf course earned an initial 1.5 stars. To be fair, the course was in disastrous condition, which maybe has something to do with CoVID, but between that and some of the most unusually ridiculous greens on planet earth, I had to deliver this very low review. I've never been happier to birdie the 18th hole, as I shot 79, which, in my own skewed mentality, means i don't have to go back...

The Ol' Switcheroo

5/17/2017

I recently played Westridge Golf Club in La Habra and updated my review. They switched nines, which I can only surmise has something to do with trying to get more snack bar business between nines, but it took a very good three closing holes and relegated them to holes 7-9, which is less dramatic. They also, due to drought I think, removed a couple of cool tee boxes, but the golf course is still fun.

Orange County Golf Picture

A "Royal" Update

4/6/2015

Monarch Beach Golf Review Picture

Since it is a little bit on the expensive side, it had been over a decade since I had hit the Monarch Beach Golf Links, but on a perfect Saturday in early April, thanks to a great online deal, I was able go out and refresh my memory of this course, and really upgrade the review. I liked the course better than I remembered, but, absent a rockin' deal like I got, be prepared to leave with the wallet a little lighter as the golf, like its surrounding resort, is undoubtedly high-end.

Tight All Around

1/26/2015

Shorecliffs Golf Review Picture

My first round of 2015 was spent on a golf course I'd driven by many times and always wanted to try. Shorecliffs Golf Course in San Clemente has a very tight and short front nine whereby the golfer drives their cart through two very tiny and tight tunnels on a couple of golf holes. The less exciting back nine takes one under the 5 freeway to the north side of the property and if the wrong turn is made, I think one can follow the drainage channels / cart paths into Mexico, but I'm not 100% sure. Long story short, it was nice to now know what this course is all about and to get my first round and review of 2015 in the books, even if I didn't play well.

Two "New" California Courses

10/31/2013

Meadowlark Golf Review Picture

I played two new courses over the last month. One course is actually very old and I have driven by it in my youth (actually, I was more accurately driven by it) many, many times, but never played it till now. The short, but fun Meadowlark Golf Course in Huntington Beach has now been added to the GolfTop18 family of courses (#18 pictured above).

The second course is actually relatively new (built in the last decade I believe) and I had never seen it or heard of it more than one week before playing it with a buddy of mine. So, please also enjoy the review (#4 pictured below) of the challenging Greg Norman designed Vellano Country Club.

Vellano Golf Review Picture

Attack of the Snow-Birds

3/2/2013

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses of freezing cold Canadians who come south seeking sun and golf for the winter months. I did my patriotic duty by playing with my long-time friend from the frozen tundra of Alberta. He was so disappointed to be wearing shorts and playing golf in 80+ degrees (that's 26+ for you Celsius lovin' folks) I can't even begin to tell you how tough it was for him. I introduced him to Westridge Golf Club (see my updated and improved review), which I think is under new management. It was in the best shape I've seen it in my nearly dozen attempts at playing it, so kudos to the new management team. However, I think they're toying with switching the nines, but if my opinion means anything, I say leave them alone. Having the last three holes stay as they are makes a much more interesting finish to the round.